Tension device for fence-machines



(No Model.) E

y W. 0. SHOEMAKER.

TENSION DEVICE FOR FENCE MACHINES.

Patented July 26, 1887.

N. PETERS. Phuluiilhugnphnn Hfahiqglon, D. C.

WILLT AM 0. SHOEMAKER,

PATENT O FrcE.

OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

TENSION DEVICE FOHRFENCE-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part, of Letters Patent No. 367,245, dated July 26, 1867.

Application filed May 29, 1886. Serial No. 203,646. (No model.)

7 To all whom it inrty concern.-

. sion device connect-ed to the twisting mechan-.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. SHOE- MAKER, a resident of Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Devices for Fence-Machines, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to mechanism for the construction of that class of fences in which the slats or palings are held between wires carried upon opposite sides thereof and twisted between said palings.

The purpose of my invention is to provide means for applying the proper tension to the wiresin such manner that the latter may be fed to the twisting mechanism from bales, instead of winding the wires, upon spools and feeding the same from said spools to the twisters.

My invention consists in the several novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully-set forth, and definitely pointed out in the claims, the same being shown in the accompanying drawings, making part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is. a perspective view ofthe tenis'm in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the post carrying the spools by which tension is applied to the wires. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the wire-clamps. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the machine folded for shipping. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a modified form of tension device.

A represents a loom or twister of ordinary construction.

B represents a portable frame or bed, to which is hinged the spool frame, which is composed of posts 1 and 2, which form supports for the spools 3. The preferred form of applying friction to the spools, so as to cause them to feed thewire under strain,=is by means of the divided or sectional post 2, with the, journal-bearings formed partly in both sections.

4 represents bolts passing transversely through the post 2.

5 represents thumb nuts. As these thumb- I nuts are turned up the sections ofpost 2 clamp the journals of the spools and regulate the frictional strain upon the spools. Thisis a very cheap and convenient form of applying strain on the spools. I do not wish to confine myself, however, to this form, as the frictional devices shown and described in application, Serial No. 199,234, filed by Jacob Middaugh and Charles M. Wilcox, April 17, 1886, or other similar devices may be used as a substitute for the particular spool-straining devices herein shown.

6 and 7 representbundles of wire from which the fence is to be made.

8 and 9 represent wires leading from these bundles to the twister, which wires may be clutched and held at anypointin theirlength by the clamp 10.; The preferredform of constructing this clamp is to provide a central ridge or boss, 11, and cam-shaped clamps l2,

pivoted tothe base 10, so that the wire shall be rigidly connectedto it, and can be quickly attached and detached to or from said clamp. The wire passes from this clamp through the twisters, as shownin Fig. 1.

A sufficient amount of tension is applied to the wire or band 14 to regulate the delivery of the wires 8 and 9 as the same are fed or delivered in response to the strain from the twisters as they are caused to revolve by means of the crank 13, for the purpose of binding the slats in vertical position. I have shown two ways to apply this tension: first, by friction applied to the spools, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and, second, by friction on the wire band 14, as shown in Fig. 5, in which 18 represents a bridge, 19 a grooved friction-saddle adjustably secured thereto by setscrews, and 20 supports over which band 14 is drawn.

When the wires 8 and 9 have been so far fed as to bring the clamps 12 near the twisters,

the clamps are released, the spools 3 wound up to bring the clamps back into position, the tension-frame is moved back for a new'position and anchored bymeans of the post 16 and link 17, or in any other convenient manner, and the wires 8 and 9 are engaged with the clamp 10 for the second length of fence. By this means I avoid the winding of the fencewire on the spools 3, and allow the bales to be more readily and easily employed and secure a saving of time and expense in constructingthe machine.

G 0 represent braces hinged or detachably connected to the bed B and to the'spool-frame 1 and 2.

When it is desired to ship the machine, the braces C are detached and the spool-frame folded down upon the base 3.

I claim- 1. In a machine for holding fence-wires in tension, the clamp or clutch constructed and arranged to hold two wires extending from a twisting device and attached to a single wire or hand held by a tension device, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device for holding fence-wires in tension, the combination of a spool or windlass journaled in a suitable support, a wire or band wound on it, a friction device for retarding the delivery from the spool of the wire or band, and a clamp or clutch carried by said wire or band adapted to be attached to or detached from the fence-wires at any point in the length of said wires at will, substantially as described.

3. Atension device for usein fence-making, consisting of a series of spools suitably mounted on a frame, each provided with a wire or band wound thereon, and with a series of tension devices, each band being provided with a clamp for attachment to the fence-wires, substantially as specified.

4. A tension device consisting of a series of spools journaled in a frame, a series of adjustable tension devices retarding the movement of said spools, a series of wires or bands mounted on said spools, and a series of clamps connected to the spool bands or wires and adapted to engage with the fence-wires, whereby the latter may be fed to the twisters from coils, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a series of spools provided with individual tension-adjusting devices and a series of wires or bands wound on said spools, a series of double clamps connected to the wires or hands of the spools and adapted to be connected to the wires which pass to the twister, whereby the fence-wires yield to the take-up or strain of the twister, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the spool-frame 1 and 2, hinged to the base B, and the detachable braces 0, whereby the parts may be folded for shipping and adjusted for use, substantially as specified.

7. A tension device for use in fence-making, consisting of a frame, a series of spools or bobbins journaled in said frame, an adjustable frictionbrake apparatus acting upon said spools, a band wound upon each spool, and a clamp carried by the free end of each band and adapted to clamp or hold a double strand, substantially as described.

8. A tension device for use in fence-making, consisting of a frame provided with a series of independent tension devices, each provided with a clamp for attachment to the double fence-wires, said clamp being adapted for attachment to and detachment from the wires at any point in the length of said wires at will, substantially as described.

9. In atension device for use in fence-making, the combination, with asupporting-frame, of a spool or bobbin jonrnaled in said frame and provided with a winch, plates bearing upon said spool, a screw orbolt for controlling the pressure of said plates, a band wound upon the spool, and a clamp carried by the free end of the band, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

'WILLIAM C. SHOEM AKER.

Vitnesses:

O. B. RAMLETT,

I. G. DoliN. 

